Automatic waste bowl flusher



March 13, 1962 J. R. LEWIS ETAL 3,024,469

AUTOMATIC WASTE BOWL FLUSHER Filed March 9, 1959 United States Eatt @habe 3,024,469 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 Ohio Filed Mar. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 793,255

12 Claims. (Cl. 42m-99) This invention relates to automatic electrically-operated waste bowl fiushers, and is particularly useful as applied to urinals and toilets.

The manual operation of urinal yand toilet flashers is often neglected by forgetful or hurried people, both children and adults, in both public places and private homes. Some people neglect to flush a toilet out of concern regarding the cleanliness of the operating handle. Yet the prompt flushing of urinals and toilets is important to all for sanitary and aesthetic reasons. It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide an improved and fully automatic means for flushing waste bowls.

It is another object `to provide an automatic electrically-operated toilet or urinal flasher which is relatively simple and economical to manufacture and which is readily applicable to existing waste bowl facilities.

It is a further object to provide an improved electrically-operated urinal or toilet fiusher including submerged bowl electrodes, and an operating circuit so designed as to minimize corrosive deterioration of the electrodes.

It is a still further object to provide an improved automatic waste bowl 4flusher characterized in having a delayed action operation and in having a highly sensitive control circuit with resulting reliability of operation.

In one aspect, the electric waste bowl liusher of the invention includes a rectifier having alternating current input terminals and direct current output terminals. Spaced electrodes are mounted inthe waste bowl beneath the level of liquid therein. The electrodes are connected in circuit with the input terminals of the rectifier and in circuit with the secondary winding of a transformer having a primary winding. adapted for connection to l-volt alternating current house power mains. Normally the resistance of the clean water between the two spaced bowl electrodes is so high that, for all practical purposes, no current ows in the circuit described. However, when the waste bowl is used, a conductive path is established between the bowl electrodes, and alternating current flows through the rectifier. As a result, a proportional direct current is available at the output terminals of the rectifier, which are connected to the energizing coil of a very sensitive direct current relay. The direct current relay has normally open contacts in circuit with the energizing coil of a time delay relay having a delay in the order of thirty seconds and the secondary winding of the transformer. The time delay relay has normally open contacts which are connected in circuit with the transformer primary winding and the input terminals of an electric motor arranged for operating a water valve in a water pipe supplying flushing water to a urinal or other type of waste bowl. The mechanical linkage between the motor and the valve includes a cam which operates contacts connected to insure the supplying of power to the motor for the period needed to complete the flushing cycle. According to another embodiment of the invention, the time delay relay is dispensed with and the time delay function is performed by a mechanical time delay means included in the mechanical linkage between the motor and the water valve.

These and other objects and aspects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following more detaiied description taken in connection with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a diagram showing the electrical and mechanical features of an automatic waste bowl iiusher constructed according to the teachings of the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a diagram of another embodiment of the invention wherein a different form of time delay is employed in place of the time delay relay.

Reference will now be made to the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 1. A plug 16 is adapted for connection to a llO-volt alternating current power outlet receptacle in the building. Alternating current power is conveyed by wires 11 and fuse 12 to the primary winding 13 of a step-down transformer 1 4 having a secondary winding 15. The secondary winding 15 may provide power at 25 volts or some other appropriate value, and is preferably provided with intermediate connecting taps 16, or a bleeder or voltage dividing resistor 17, to which the movable contact 13 is connected. The resistor 17 and contact 18 constitute a sensitivity control potentiometer. The alternating current potential available across the portion 19 of the resistor 17 is applied to a series circuit including a full-wave rectifier 2t) and a pair of spaced electrodes Z1 and 22 mounted below the water level in a waste bowl or urinal 25.

The full-wave rectifier 20 includes four rectifiers 21', 22', 23 and 24 connected in a bridge circuit having two alternating current input terminals 25 and 26, and having two direct current output terminals 27 and 28. A filter capacitor 29, having a value such as forty micro-V farads, may be connected across the direct current output terminals of the rectifier 2.0 to smooth the fiuctuations of the unidirectional current developed by the rectifier. The direct current output terminals of the rectifier 2d are connected by leads 30 to the energizing coil 3'1 of a very sensitive direct current relay 35 having normally open contacts 36.

Alternating current from the transformer 14 and potentiometer 17, 18 cannot flow into the input terminals 25, 26 of the rectiiier 26 unless the circuit is completed through leads 38, the electrodes 21, 22, and the solution 39 in the waste bowl 25. The electrical conductivity of water supplies in various localities differs considerably depending on the chemicals dissolved therein. The potentiometer 17, 1S is initially adjusted at the time of installation to supply that voltage of alternating current to the circuit of the rectifier 26 and bowl electrodes 21, 22 which results in a current iiow through clean water 39 between electrodes 21, 22 that is just insufiicient to produce enough direct current from the output leads 30 of the rectifier to operate the sensitive relay 35. Then, when waste material enters the bowl 255, the conductivity of the solution 39 is increased with the result that sufficient alternating current flows through the solution and through the rectifier 20 so that the direct current generated is suflicient to energize the relay and close the normally open contacts 36. It should be understood that the adjustment at the time of installation may be made by connecting the contact 18 to an appropriate one of the taps 16 on the secondary coil 15. In this case the resistor 17, and its accompanying power loss, is eliminated.

When waste in bowl 25 causes the energization of direct current relay 35, the contacts 36 thereof close and connect the secondary winding 15 of the transformer 14 to the energizing coil 42 of a time delay relay 45 having normally open contacts 46. The time delay relay 45 is constructed so that its contacts 46 do not close until twenty or thirty seconds after its energizing Winding or coil 42 is first energized. The time delay in relay 45 is preferably obtained by a construction including a.A

dashpot connected to the relay armature in such a way that the armature cannot travel the distance necessary for closing of contacts 46 until the energizing coil has been energized for the desired twenty or thirty seconds. The time delay provided by the time delay relay 45 is necessary to prevent premature operation of the flushing mechanism to be described.

One side of the ll-volt power line 11 is connected by lead 49 to a motor 50, and the other side of the power line is connected by lead 51, the normally open contacts 46 of time delay relay 45, and by lead 52 to the motor 50. The motor 50 is therefore energized when contacts 46 of time delay relay 45 close at a predetermined time following the operation of sensitive direct current relay 35 as the result of waste material entering the bowl 25.

Motor 50 has an output shaft 54 which is coupled through a reduction gear 55 and a shaft 56 to valve 57 located in the water pipe 58. The water pipe 58 connects a water main to the urinal or waste bowl 25 whereby ushing water is supplied to the bowl 25 upon operation of the valve 57. The urinal 25 is provided with a drain pipe 60 including the usual trap loop. A switch operating cam 60 is mounted on the shaft 56, or on some other appropriate part of the mechanism coupling the motor shaft 50 to the valve 57. Contacts 65 are mounted so as to be normally open and to be operated by the cam 60. The contacts 65 are connected in parallel with the contacts 45 of time delay relay 45 by means of leads 66 and 67. The cam 60 is provided with an operating contour (not shown) such that normally open contacts 65 are closed shortly after the motor 5t) is energized, and the contacts 65 remain closed while the valve 57 is driven to its open position, and then back to its closed position, whereupon the cam 60 causes the contacts 65 to return to their normal open condition. It is therefore apparent that the cam 60 and contacts 65 insure that, once initiated, the flushing cycle is systematically completed. Stated another way, the cam 60 and contacts 65 continue the flushing action after clean water enters the bowl 25-otherwise the clean water would interrupt the energization of the sensitive relay 35 and the time delay relay 45.

The entire cycle of operation may be more briefly described as follows: Initially, all the contacts are in the positions shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. The alternating current flow through the clean liquid 39 between electrodes 21 and 22 is insufficient to provide enough direct current at the output of the rectifier to energize the sensitive direct current relay 35. However, when waste enters the bowl 25, the alternating current conductivity of solution 39 is increased and sensitive relay 35 is energized, whereupon its contacts 36 close and energize time delay relay 45. After being energized for 20 or 30 seconds, the time delay relay contacts 46 close and connect power to the motor 50. When the motor 50 starts to run, the cam 60 causes contacts 65 to close and remain closed until the valve 57 has been turned open and then closed again. The contacts 65 insure that the cycle of operation will be completed despite the fact that clean flushing water in bowl decreases the current flow between electrodes 21, 22 and allows relays 35 and 45 to become deenergized.

For a description of another embodiment of the invention, reference is made to FIGURE 2 of the drawings wherein elements corresponding to those in FIGURE 1 are given the same reference numerals. Alternating current power is supplied through transformer 14 to `the circuit including the full-wave rectifier 20 and the bowl electrodes 21 and 22. A variable resistor 70 is connected across the alternating current input terminals 25 and 26 of the rectifier 20, if desired, to serve as a variable sensitivity control. The direct current output terminals of the rectifier 20 are designated 27 and 28 and are connected to the energizing coil 31 of the sensitive direct current relay 35 having normally open contacts 36.

The embodiment of FIGURE 2 differs from that in FIGURE 1 in that the time delay relay 45 is eliminated and the contacts 36 of the sensitive relay 35 are connected to supply alternating current power from line 11 to the motor 50. The motor shaft 54 is coupled through a speed reducing gear 55 to a cam 60, as in FIGURE 1. The contour of cam 60 is indicated in FIGURE 2 as one wherein the contacts 65 are permitted to be open during solely the periods preceding and following the energization of the motor 50 through the relay contacts 36. Once the motor 50 and the cam 60 start rotating, the cam 60 holds contacts 65 closed until the end of one flushing cycle is reached.

The embodiment of FIGURE 2 additionally differs from that of FIGURE 1 in including a mechanical time delay mechanism interposed in the coupling between the cam shaft 56 and the flush valve 57. The time delay mechanism is illustrated as including a mutilated gear wheel 73 on the cam shaft 56, and, arranged to mesh therewith, a full gear wheel 74 mounted on a shaft 75 connected to the flush valve 57. Once the motor 50 is energized and cam 60 and mutilated gear wheel 73 are caused to rotate in the direction indicated, it will be observed that the mutilated gear wheel 73 must rotate a considerable portion of one revolution before any motion is transmitted to the complete gear wheel 74. During the interval thus provided, which can be in the order of twenty or thirty seconds, the initiation of rotation of the flush valve 57 is delayed so that premature flushing of the waste bowl is avoided. At the expiration of the delay period, the lead tooth 77 of the mutilated gear wheel engages the tooth 78 of the gear wheel 74 to begin the turning on of the flushing valve 57. The rotation of gear wheel 74 and shaft 75 continues until the ush valve 57 is completely opened and returned to the closed position, at which time the mutilated gear wheel 73 is returned to the position shown in the drawing. At this time the notch in the cam 60 causes contacts 65 to open and interrupt the energization of the motor 50. The entire apparatus is then ready for the next cycle of operation to be initiated by the next following entry of waste into the bowl 25 including the electrodes 21 and 22.

It will be understood that the mutilated gear wheel 73 and the complete gear wheel 74 shown in FIGURE 2 are merely illustrative of mechanisms suitable for use in the invention for providing suitable time delay mechanically.

It is apparent that according to the teachings of this invention there is provided a simple, effective and reliable means for the completely automatic flushing of waste bowls such as, for example, urinals and toilets.

What is claimed is:

l. An electric waste bowl flusher for use with a source of -alternating current power and a waste bowl having a flushing valve, comprising a full wave rectifier having alternating current input terminals and direct current output terminals, electrode means spaced apart in said waste bowl beneath the level of liquid therein, a transformer having a primary winding connected to said source of power and having a secondary winding coupled in circuit with the input terminals of said rectifier and said electrode means, a sensitive direct current relay having normally open contacts and having an energizing coil connected to the output terminals of said rectier, a time delay relay having normally open contacts and having an energizing coil in circuit with the secondary winding of said transformer and the contacts of said direct current relay, a motor having electrical terminals in circuit with the primary winding of said transformer and the contacts of said time delay relay, a mechanical coupling between said motor and said flushing valve, said mechanical coupling including speed reducing gears and cam means, and contacts connected in parallel with the contacts of said time delay relay, and operated by said cam means to insure operation of said motor through a predetermined cycle of said valve.

2. An electric waste bowl tiusher for use with a source of alternating current power and a waste bowl having a flushing valve, comprising a rectiiier, two electrodes spaced apart in said waste bowl Abeneath the level of liquid therein, a transformer having a primary winding connected to said source of power and having a secondary winding connected in circuit with said rectifier and said two electrodes, a direct current relay having normally open contacts andhaving an energizing coil connected to receive direct current from said rectifier, an electric motor, means including said normally open contacts for connecting said alternating current power to said motor in response to energization of said relay, a mechanical coupling between said motor and said iiushing valve, said mechanical coupling including speed reducing gears and cam means, contacts connected in circuit between said motor and said source of alternating current power land operated by said cam to insure operation of said motor through a predetermined cycle of said ush valve, and time delay means to delay operation of said valve for a predetermined period of time following the entrance of waste into said bowl and the consequent iiow of current energizing said relay.

3. An electric waste bowl iiusher as `defined in claim 2 wherein said time delay means is constituted by a time delay relay having an energizing coil in circuit with the contacts of said direct current relay and having contacts in circuit between said motor and said source of alternating current power.

4. An electric waste bowl iiusher as defined in claim 2 wherein said time delay means is constituted by a time delay mechanism interposed in the mechanical coupling between said motor and said flusher valve.

5. An electric waste bowl iiusher for use with a source of electric power and a waste bowl having a iiushing valve, comprising: two electrodes spaced apart in said waste bowl beneath the level of liquid therein, a sensitive relay having normally-open contacts and having an energizing coil, means coupling said energizing coil in circuit with said electrodes and said source of electric power, a time delay relay having normally-open contacts and having an energizing coil connected in circuit with the contacts of said sensitive relay and said source of electric power, la motor having electrical input terminals connected in circuit with the contacts of said time delay relay and said source of electric power, a mechanical coupling between said motor and said flushing valve, said mechanical coupling including speed reducing gears and cam means, and contacts connected in parallel with the contacts of said time delay relay and operated by said cam means to insure operation of said motor through a predetermined cycle of said valve.

6. An electric waste bowl iiusher for use with a source of alternating current power and a waste bowl having a ushing valve, comprising: two electrodes spaced apart in said waste bowl beneath the level of liquid therein, a sensitive direct-current relay having normally-open contacts and having an energizing coil, a rectifier connected to translate said alternating current power from said source to direct current, means connecting the direct current output of said rectifier in circuit with said bowl electrodes and the energizing coil of said sensitive relay, a time delay relay having normally-open contacts and having an energizing coil in circuit with the contacts of said sensitive relay and said source of power, a motor having electrical input terminals in circuit with the contacts of said time delay relay and said source of power, a mechanical coupling between said motor and said iiushing valve including speed reducing gears and cam means, and contacts connected in parallel with the contacts of said time delay relay and operated by said cam means to insure operation of said motor through a predetermined cycle of said valve.

7. An electric waste bowl usher for use with a source of alternating current power and a waste bowl having a iiushing valve, comprising: two electrodes spaced apart in said waste bowl beneath the level of liquid therein, a sensitive direct-current relay having normally-open contacts and an energizing coil, la rectiiier connected between said source of alternating current power and a circuit including said electrodes and the energizing coil of said direct-current relay, a motor having electrical input terminals connected in circuit with the contacts of said directcurrent relay and said source of alternating current power, a mechanical coupling between said motor and said ushing valve including speed reducing gears, cam means and mechanical time delay means, and contacts connected in parallel with the `contacts of said direct-current relay and operated by said cam means to insure operation of said motor through a predetermined cycle of said valve.

8. An electric waste bowl flusher for use with a source of electric power and a waste bowl having a flushing valve, comprising: electrodes in said waste bowl beneath the level of liquid therein, a sensitive relay having contacts and having an energizing coil, means coupling said energizing coil in circuit with said electrodes and said source of electric power, a time delay relay having contacts and having lan energizing coil connected in circuit with the contacts of said sensitive relay and said source of electric power, a motor having electrical input terminals connected in circuit with the contacts of said time delay relay and said source of electric power, a mechanical coupling between said motor and said ilushing Valve including cam means, and contacts connected in parallel with the contacts of said time delay relay and operated by said cam means to insure operation of said motor through a predetermined cycle of said valve.

9. In an electric waste bowl flusher system including a source of alternating current power, and a motor operated iiushing valve having a cam in the mechanical linkage between the motor and the valve and having contacts operated by said cam, the combination of: a full wave rectiiier having alternating current input terminals and direct current output terminals, electrode means spaced apart in said waste bowl beneath the level of liquid therein, a transformer having a primary winding connected to said source of power and having a secondary winding coupled in circuit with the input terminals of said rectifier and said electrode means, a sensitive direct current relay having normally open contacts and having an energizing coil connected to the output terminals of said rectifier, a time delay relay having normally open contacts and having an energizing coil in circuit with the secondary winding of said transformer nand the contacts of said direct current relay means connecting said motor in circuit with the primary winding of said transformer and the contacts of said time delay relay, and means connecting the contacts of said time delay relay in parallel with the contacts operated by said cam to insure operation of said motor through -a predetermined cycle of said valve.

10. In an electric waste bowl llusher system including a source of alternating current power, and a motor operated iiushing valve having a cam in the mechanical linkage between the motor and the valve and having contacts operated by said cam, the combination of: a rectifier, two electrodes spaced apart in said waste bowl beneath the level of liquid therein, a transformer having a primary winding connected to said source of power and having a secondary winding connected in circuit with said rectifier and said two electrodes, a direct current relay having normally open contacts and having an energizing coil connected to receive direct current from said rectifier, means including said normally open contacts for connecting said alternating current power to said motor in response to energization of said relay, means connecting said motor in circuit with said source of alternating current power and said cam` operated contacts to insure operation-of said motor through a predetermined cycle of said flush valve, and time delay means to delay operation of said valve for a predetermined period of time following the entrance of waste into said bowl and the consequent ow of current energizing said relay.

11. An electric waste bowl flusher as dened in claim 10 wherein said time delay means is constituted by a time delay relay having an energizingcoil in circuit with the contacts of said direct current relay and havingcontacts' in circuit between said motor and said source of alternating current power.

12. An electric waste bowl usher as delined in claim 10 wherein said `time delay means is constituted by a time Si delay mechanism interposed in the mechanical coupling between said motor and said usher valve.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,366,761 Adell Jan. 25, 1921 1,709,083 Littlefield Apr. 16, 1929 2,129,331 Littlefield Sept. 6, 1938 2,308,917 Hardinge Ian. 19, 1943 2,542,638 Desch Feb. 20, 1951 2,788,482 Ray Apr. 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 494,166 Great Britain Oct. 20, 1938 

